History Puerto Arista

lighthouse in center of town

originally called la puerta, existence first recorded in 1813, when spanish council in cádiz authorized port trade guatemala, other ports in new spain , peru. in 1860s, president benito juárez declared main port coastal shipping. port used receive goods panama, acapulco , far san francisco. chiapas products such lime, dried fish, indigo , tropical hardwoods. lacks bay, ships arriving area had dock in open ocean, linked coast long cable, smaller boats ferry cargo , passengers. in 1893, federal government constructed lighthouse warn large cargo carriers area waters not considered safe such craft. since then, area has lost function port, shrimp boats stopping nearby. economy has shifted tourism chiapas’ visited beach.

in 2010, large wave hit area hitting beachside restaurants, washing away dozens of establishments , boats. wave eroded more meter of beach width in areas.

in summer , november 2011, there problems high levels of enterococcus bacteria in water.